I work on a psych ward...ask me anything

[Anonymous]

I have worked for almost two decades on various acute, crisis, and long term psych wards. Some of it on adult wards, some of it on child/adolescent wards.

[Anonymous]

What is your position?
Do you like it?

[Anonymous]

Have you been attacked? I hear this is common even in places like nursing homes with dementia patients.

[Anonymous]

How is my family doing?

[Anonymous]

I love..parts of it. I have taken breaks from it at times as it is emotionally very draining. I find if I don't take time away then I start to get very indifferent and detached. What I love about it is that every day is different, every patient has a story, every family is unique. I find the human brain fascinating so the neurobiology and intersection with social/psychological/spiritual factors of mental health/illness is a complexity I enjoy. It is brain work versus task work and I love that. I have been fortunate to work on pretty good wards. I avoid any that have a diagnose, drug, restrain, discharge, mentality.

I have never been injured. I have been attacked and hit/kicked once or twice but never hurt. Most of the time it has been in an attempt to restrain someone or take something away from them that they are using to hurt themselves and the patient fighting back against that is to be expected.

otherwise, if you treat people with respect, are very observant, spend time with the patients and build rapport, have good deescalation skills, are not emotionally reactive and have sufficient staffing and activities to make the ward functioning then you can avoid getting hurt.

Your family is fine! Bored and sick of hospital food and annoyed they can't go out to smoke but otherwise fine!

[Anonymous]

Without anything identifying obviously.. can you tell us one of your most interesting stories from your job?

[Anonymous]

Can people be cured or only treated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love..parts of it. I have taken breaks from it at times as it is emotionally very draining. I find if I don't take time away then I start to get very indifferent and detached. What I love about it is that every day is different, every patient has a story, every family is unique. I find the human brain fascinating so the neurobiology and intersection with social/psychological/spiritual factors of mental health/illness is a complexity I enjoy. It is brain work versus task work and I love that. I have been fortunate to work on pretty good wards. I avoid any that have a diagnose, drug, restrain, discharge, mentality.

I have never been injured. I have been attacked and hit/kicked once or twice but never hurt. Most of the time it has been in an attempt to restrain someone or take something away from them that they are using to hurt themselves and the patient fighting back against that is to be expected.

otherwise, if you treat people with respect, are very observant, spend time with the patients and build rapport, have good deescalation skills, are not emotionally reactive and have sufficient staffing and activities to make the ward functioning then you can avoid getting hurt.

Your family is fine! Bored and sick of hospital food and annoyed they can't go out to smoke but otherwise fine!

Thanks OP! Sounds, well, crazy!

[Anonymous]

Do many patients feel they are completely fine and should not be in a psych ward? Or is there a feeling of sadness knowing they are ill and have to be there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is my family doing?

Great post! I'm sure many of us can relate!

[Anonymous]

Are you that awful Nurse Ratchet? Why are you so mean? Do you think the Big Indian is really crazy, or just has a speech impediment?

[Anonymous]

Have you ever dated one of the crazies?

[Anonymous]

Some can be 'cured', some can be treated. Like physical illness, mental illness includes a wide range of illnesses. Paranoid schizophrenia can be treated - I haven't seen anyone cured although those who get early intervention and stay on their meds can function really well.

Something like clinical depression on the other hand - it it was triggered by an event then yes with treatment and time it can be 'cured'. many people only experience one episode of depression in their life. Others have chronic depression that is more neurobiological in nature and they will battle depression for life, although again with treatment(if it works) they can function.

If you smoke, eat high fat food, are a workaholic and are obese and you have a heart attack - you have to treat the heart attack but if the person changes their lifestyle then they can be heart healthy. Others live healthy and still have a heart attack due to genetic / bio factors but you still need to keep living healthily. Same type thing with mental illness.

Same patients feel they do not need to be there at all and argue this ad nauseum. Others accept being there but are sad. However I would say for the majority, it is a relief. It validates what they are experiencing as being a real illness and not them being weak, it gives them a break from the stressors of life, it lets them meet others who are also dealing with mental illness, it gets them started on treatment and gives them a bit of hope that maybe life can improve.

And no NEVER, EVER dated a patient!!

[Anonymous]

Have you ever witnessed abuse towards patients?

[Anonymous]

Describe your "typical" patient... male or female? Age? Socio-economic status? Involved in illegal drugs? Homeless?

Oh, and is it true that the psych ward really heats up when there is a full moon?